CPSS - Certified Performance and Sport Scientist Managing Training Load Questions and Answers

Question 1

A sport scientist observes that a team's weekly training load is high, but the day-to-day variability is very low.
Which training metric would quantify this lack of variability, and what is the primary risk associated with it?

Accepted Answer

Training Monotony; risk of illness and overtraining

Answer

Training Strain; risk of undertraining

Answer

Acute:Chronic Workload Ratio; risk of acute deconditioning

Answer

Session RPE; risk of poor athlete buy-in

Question 2

A Certified Performance and Sport Scientist notes that a swimmer's external load (total yardage) has decreased for three consecutive days. However, the athlete's resting heart rate is elevated, and their self-reported wellness scores for sleep quality and muscle soreness are poor. What is the MOST likely interpretation of this data?

Accepted Answer

The athlete is experiencing non-training related stress or is in the early stages of an illness.

Answer

The athlete has fully recovered and is ready for a significant increase in training load.

Answer

The athlete is likely de-training due to the reduced external load.

Answer

The external load monitoring device is providing inaccurate data.

Question 3

Which of the following BEST defines 'Training Strain' as conceptualized in Foster's model of training load monitoring?

Accepted Answer

The product of an athlete's total weekly training load and their training monotony score.

Answer

The athlete's subjective rating of perceived exertion (RPE) during a single training session.

Answer

The difference between the acute workload and the chronic workload.

Answer

The peak velocity achieved during a high-intensity exercise.

Question 4

A soccer player's acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR) is calculated to be 1.7 after a week of intensified practice. The coaching staff has a high-volume conditioning test planned for the day's session. Based on established models of injury risk, what is the most appropriate recommendation for the sport scientist to make for this specific player?

Accepted Answer

Modify or have the player sit out the conditioning test to reduce their acute load.

Answer

Proceed with the planned test, as a high ACWR indicates a state of functional overreaching.

Answer

Have the athlete complete the test as planned but add extra recovery work afterward.

Answer

Increase the intensity of the test to push the athlete's adaptive ceiling even higher.

Question 5

Which of the following pairs correctly identifies an external load measure and an internal load measure, respectively?

Accepted Answer

Total distance covered (GPS) and Blood Lactate Concentration

Answer

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Session RPE (sRPE)

Answer

Number of sprints performed and Jump height

Answer

Wellness questionnaire score and Heart Rate Response

Question 6

A performance scientist is planning a training microcycle for a basketball team during the competitive season. The team plays a key game on Saturday. To optimize performance and recovery, which of the following represents the most appropriate weekly training load structure?

Accepted Answer

Load should peak mid-week (e.g., Tuesday/Wednesday) and then taper into the game day.

Answer

Load should be highest on Sunday and Monday to maximize recovery time before the next game.

Answer

Load should be progressively increased each day, peaking on Friday, the day before the game.

Answer

Load should be consistently high throughout the week to simulate game demands.